Apparatus for cleaning film-strip



APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FILM ,ST RIP Filed Feb. 18, 1932 Y [N VEN TOR 5/1 RE mow I A TTORN y Patented Oct. 2, 1934 This invention relates to 1,975,289 g f APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FILM-STRIP Ernest Reynolds, Cleveland, Ohio Application February 18, 1932, Serial No. 593,833

10 Claims. 7 (oi. 15-100) apparatus for cleaning film strip of the type used for motion-picture projection, sound-recording, and the like and has for its object the provision of means for removing 5 dust and smudges rapidly and completely without-contact with human hands, leaving the film not only clean but also scratches.

dry and free from In the'drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device containing my improvements; Fig. 2 is a top-plan'view of the'same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the film-guide removed from the tank; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the wipers.

My improved film cleaner comprises a tank 1 for detergent liquid, wipers 2, and a polishing-element 3 arranged in the order named and carried by a suitable support. In its preferred form the tank consists of a cast-metal receptacle having vertical front and rear walls 4, 5 and end walls 6 integral with a laterally-projecting horizontal shelf '7 provided at its corners with upright posts 8, 8, said shelf supporting the wipers and the posts holding said wipers in place. These wipers consists of oblong metal strips 10 having their corners cut out as indicated at 11 to fit loosely in the spaces defined by the posts, and surrounded between the post with wrappings 12 of some soft,

inexpensive, absorbent fabric. Two of these pads are employed, one above the other, and gentle pressure is imposed upon the upper pad by means of a presser-bar 13, carried and guided by a bracket 14 and surrounded by a light spring 15.

Projecting from this shelf is a horizontal arm 17 having at its end the upright post 18 on which are rotatably mounted upper and lower circular metal disks 19 between which are interposed a plurality of disks of soft, absorbent fabric such, for example, as a cotton felt. An adjustable nut 21 screwed on post 18 compresses a spring 22 against the uppermost disk the turning effect thereof.

19 so as to regulate The entire device is .supported by a suitable upright 24 from suitable feet 25, preferably in a vertically and 'angularly adjustable manner as by a slot 26 and clampingscrew 27 to enable the level and angle of the device to be adjusted to accommodate different sizes of rolls or reels.

screw 31 to the rear-wall 5, ing-rolls, located at different on horizontal screws 32.

are a series of guidheights and mounted Each of these rolls preferably comprises cylindrical film-engaging portions 33 spaced apart by a reduced body-portion 34 and included between circular washers 35, these rolls being located at different heights whereby the film is submerged into the tank as shown in Fig. 1.

The liquid employed may be carbon tetrachloride or any other composition of matter suitable for the purpose.- The film after passing through the tank passes between the two pads and then between the rotating disks, the post 18 being located at one side of the axis of the machine so as to cause the film to pass between the center and periphery of such disk; The material 12 of the pads is preferably made fairly wet at the start so as to exhibit a washing rather than a wiping action, although at any event the same will gradually become wetter as the operation proceeds. The film being drawn steadily through the machine, the engagement of the same with the disks causes the latter to rotate gradually producing a gentle wiping action of much the same character as that produced by the fingers, but with the advantage of not producing fingerprints which are often ineradicable. The film can be drawn through the apparatus at a considerable speed and still receive a good cleaning action, Due to the large area of the disks 20 the same receive very little soiling so that abrasion of the film is avoided, while their large size produces such an evaporation of the detergent liquid, (particularly when the disks are perforated, as shown) as to maintain the same sensibly dry under ordi nary conditions and to cause the film to be sensibly dry within a few inches after leaving the same. The rapid movement of the film through the liquid enabled by this efiicient drying action prevents any deep softening of the emulsion while the wet condition of the pads diminishes any tendency of collected grit to scratch or scour the film. The ready separability of the parts enables the pads and wipers to be readily replaced and the tank to be cleansed. It will be understood that many changes in detail and design can be made within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning film-strip characterized by having means for guiding a longitudinally-moved film-strip, and rubbing means comprising pads between which the film-strip is received, said pads being mounted for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the film-strip by which the film-strip is wiped with a circular motion during its longitudinal movement.

2. Apparatus for cleaning film-strip characterized by having means for guiding a longitudinally-moved film-strip, and rubbing means driven by frictional engagement with said filmstrip, mounted for rotation about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the film-strip and located at one side of that portion of the rubbing means in contact with the film-strip by which the film is wiped with a circular motion during its longitudinal movement. I

3. Apparatus for cleaning film-strip characterized by having means for guiding a longitudinally-moved film-strip, apair of circular disks of soft, rubbing material between which the film-strip passes in frictional engagement, means for supporting each disk'for rotationabout an axis which is perpendicular to the plane of the film-strip whereby said disks are rotated about their axes as said filmrstrip is moved lengthwise ofitself. V V

at Apparatus for cleaning film-strip comprising a film-strip guide; a pivot element havingfits axis located at one side of a strip of filmin said guide,

the pivot axis being perpendicular to the plane rubbing surfaoes adapted to engage opposite facesof said film-strip, and means pressing said disks together with a determined pressure, said disks extending completely over said film-strip and be.- ing rotated by the film-strip itself as the same is drawn through said guide.

Apparatus for. cleaning a longitudinally movable film-stripi comprising rubbing devices frictionally engaging and wiping the film-strip with a circular motion parallel to its plane, said rubbing, devices'being mounted for free rotation about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the film andoffset from the lineof movement thereof.

6. Apparatus for cleaning a longitudinally movable film-strip comprising a movably mounted rubbing device driven by frictional engagement with the film-strip, said rubbing device having a substantially fiat surface for contacting with the film-strip and being mounted for free rotation about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the film and offset from the line of movement thereof.

7. Apparatus for cleaning a longitudinally movable film-strip comprising movably mounted rubbing means operatively driven by frictional engagement with the opposite faces of a movable film-strip, said rubbing means being mounted for free rotation about an axis which is substantially perpendicular tothe plane of movement of the film and oifset from the line of movement thereof.

3. Apparatus for cleaning a longitudinally mov able film-strip comprising a movably mounted rubbing device driven by frictional engagement with the moving film-strip and rubbing the same in a direction transverse to the length of. the film-strip, said rubbing device being mounted for free rotation about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the p ane of movement of the1190 film and ofiset from the line of movement thereof 97 Apparatus for cleaning a longitudinally mov able film-stripcomprising a rotatably mounted rubbing device driven by frictional engagement with the movable film-strip, said rubbing device 14% being mounted on an axiswhich is substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the film and offset from the line of movement thereof 10. Apparatus for cleaning a longitudinally movable film-strip comprising. a rotatably mount-- 1110 ed rubbing device having substantially flat rubbing surfaces located in position to engage the opposite sides of the film-strip at one side of the axis of said rubbing device. 7 a v ERNEST M. REYNOLDS. 1:125 

